The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES — Players settled down with their bingo cards, and checked the goodies La Hacienda catering was setting out. Lawrence Parker, the “in-house DJ,” made sure he got a hug from all the women in the room before setting up his gear. It didn’t take long before all was ready for The Villages African American Club’s annual picnic Saturday at the Pimlico Recreation Center.

According to Bobby Walker, the club’s vice president, the club was formed in 1997. The club’s president, George Spillers, estimates there are 112 members at this time.

“We had about 10 members then,” said Arlene Reed, the club’s secretary. “The idea is to get together and have fun. Our members are from all over the country. We meet monthly, except for July and August, and we have different activities — a game night, a potluck night. We had a Christmas party at King Garden and a New Year’s Eve party.

“There are not that many African-American people in The Villages,” continued Reed, “and in this group, it’s not unusual to find out you lived in the same city as another member and would have never met if it weren’t for this club.”

Laverne Walker is the club’s social activities chairwoman, and was responsible for coordinating the picnic. “We also had a costume party for Halloween. Bobby Blackman is going to entertain at this year’s Christmas party,” she said. “I don’t have one favorite event; I have fun at all of them.”

“My favorite was the New Year’s Eve party,” replied Reed. “Laverne got us together, and this is a terrific group of people.”

Marilyn and Dean Vernon were attending their second club event. The former residents of Belize moved to The Villages three months ago.

“We joined as a way to meet new people and make friends,” Marilyn said.

With so many people from so many different places, figuring out what someone means when they use a regional slang term can cause some good-natured discussion.

“We get confused with soda and pop,” Reed said. “It’s soda.”

“We’ve had this conversation before,” replied Walker. “I call it pop, and I’m not going to convert.”

Getting a crowd on the dance floor is no problem for Parker.

“I’ve been a member of the club for three and a half years,” he said. “I came in to The Villages on a Tuesday, and by Wednesday, I’d joined. I like the camaraderie of the club.”

The most requested tunes are “The Electric Slide,” and R. Kelly’s “Stepping in the Name of Love,” Parker says.

“The people like doing line dances, usually everybody comes out on the floor when those songs play.”

“The idea is to get everybody together, meeting one-on-one. The club lets people know that there are African-Americans in The Villages,” Spillers said.

“We have plans for some great events for the rest of the year. If you don’t join, you’re going to miss out,” said Walker.

Donna Riley-Lein is a reporter for the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9255, or donna.riley-lein@thevillagesmedia.com.